Other than the parts used to make the round windows and door, the only thing that I'm really excited about in this set (not counting minifigs) is the new brown printed tiles. Not really sure why I'd want that many green rounded bricks...

$60 for bag end seems like a whole lot of money for what seems like a relatively small set (ie non-licensed we'd be looking at $35/40 max?... Great figures, some nice detail... but $60?! (which will probably be £50/£60?).If anyone's read of the piece count I'd be interested to know. On a side note, the fbtb photos are hilarious, the figs are all in some state of falling over (I'm guessing they're in a glass case, so I'm not blaming the photographer).

There's picture of series 8 CMF surfacing as well but sure they'll turn up on here soon enough.

I'm pretty excited about this set. My only real gripe is that it seems to be all stickers (maps, boards, book), though there is still hope that this is a preview and the ultimate set will be printed (though the Moria set is stickered). The figs are very movie-accurate, so while I think that a couple are very silly looking, I blame Peter Jackson and not LEGO. To save people some clicks, here are pictures. Also at ComicCon there were large statues of Gandalf and Bilbo, a interactive mosaic of a LEGO version of the Hobbit poster, and attendees could get a Bilbo fig in sort of a scavenger hunt where they had to visit various booths to get the different elements:

This is another well designed set IMO. The minifigs are well-suited to the movie characters (although I dislike the "belly' part of the one dwarf's beard) and both the interior and exterior of Bag end are very nicely detailed. However, I doubt I will buy it given the expected high price point and my greater interest in LOTR military sets than civilian sets.

I think this is an incredible set. It looks more like an AFOL MOC than an actual LEGO release. The new parts like the round plate with the hole in the middle and the new pretzel are very welcome. It also comes with a wealth of food pieces. I will also find uses for all of the new hair and beard styles that will be coming out in the Hobbit sets. The variety for all 13 dwarves is going to be stunning.

The thing I find most useful is the new torsos! Even though we now have gotten some peasant torsos to work with, civilian clothing is still a rarity in the castle era. So far I have only been working with blacksmiths, peasant garb from the MVR and MMV, royal clothing, some jedi torsos, and a few from other themes. The torsos on the dwarves come in a variety of colors and look perfect for merchants or adventuring types. Best of all they are generic and have no crests on them. I just hope they don't have a whole lot of flesh showing so they can be used with my other castle figs.

I like it. No I love it. As stated above, it has the charm of a fan created model, but is kept tastefully small (relative to how I'd over-do it) and provides enough recognizable design to get a bookshelf home. I love the "living a simple life" look and accessories, and the torsos will be an absolute boon to the Castle theme builders (provided the fleshy disease is minimal). The overall look of the set has a nice pull-back, almost deep 3D look regarding the "small" oak tree on the top of the hill. It should be so much larger, but if you look straight at it it has an illusion of depth with the tree appearing farther off. Looks great and I cannot wait.

There is no life I know to compare with pure imagination. Living there, you'll be free if you truly wish to be. -Willy Wonka, 1971-

This set looks BOSS, but at $60 I won't come close to buying it. I love its authenticity, especially the rounded shape. For $60, I'd hope it could have a 360 degree shell and split open for dual interior play. I just can't get in line with the steep inflation TLG has installed across the board. It's really insulting, and even if I buy their regular brands in the future, this incline will keep me away from the licensed products forever.

I have to disagree with those who say that $60 USD is too high of a price for this set. When you compare Bag End to other sets of similar size, this one looks really parts intense. Other castle-themed sets of this size would likely have less detail and open areas held up by 1X2X5 bricks. The set also has 6 nice MF's. Then, of course, there's the license fee that LEGO has to pay. Considering those factors, I think that $60 is a fair price.

As far as the set itself, I'm glad to see the 2X2X3 slope return in green. When I first saw a smaller image of the set, I thought that the flowers on the windowsill on the right side were orange! Alas, that color was from the red light coming through the window onto the yellow flowers. Like others have said, I love the torsos, and I hope that the 1X6 tiles with wood grain come printed in the official set instead of stickers.